Frost Death Knight PvP Guide — The War Within (11.0.5)

Last updated on Oct 21, 2024 at 21:00 by Keator 7 comments
General Information

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Frost Death Knight in a PvP environment. The guide will cover everything from talent choices, PvP talents, gameplay and rotation, and useful racial bonuses. It is most applicable to Arena content, but most talents and racial bonuses will work in Rated Battlegrounds and skirmishes.

1.

Frost Death Knights in the Current Meta

Frost Death Knight offers powerful sustained damage (mostly in the form of cleave), and a situationally-impressive utility toolkit. It also boasts enormous survivability. Frost DK has arguably the most powerful movement disruption out of all specs and shuts down most classes that rely on their mobility to do well.

2.

Notable Changes in War Within

  • Arctic Assault Icon Arctic Assault now fires a Glacial Advance at 80% effectiveness (was 100%).
  • Significant Changes to the Deathbringer Hero Tree
3.

Strengths of Frost Death Knights

  • Strong burst damage
  • Powerful AoE setups
  • Unmatched disruption & anti-mobility
  • Crowd Control prevention tools
4.

Weaknesses of Frost Death Knights

  • Limited crowd control
  • Low damage mitigation
  • Little to no mobility
5.

Content of the Guide

This guide ended up being very long, so we decided to split it in different pages.

  • On the Frost Death Knight PvP Talents page, you will find an analysis of each PvE talent row to help you decide which talent to pick on each row, as well as an overview of the PvP talents, which advice on which ones to take and under which conditions.
  • On the Frost Death Knight PvP Rotation and Playstyle page, you will learn how to use your spells, depending on the situation (damaging, surviving, controlling enemy players, etc.), and what is generally expected of your class and spec in PvP.
  • On the Frost Death Knight PvP Stat Priority and Gear page, you will find the stat priority to follow in PvP, as well as advice for choosing your gear, particularly trinkets.
  • On the Frost Death Knight PvP Best Races page, you will find lists of the Alliance and Horde races, ranked by how good they are for Frost Death Knights in PvP, as well as explanations regarding why and how their racials benefit you.
  • On the Frost Death Knight PvP Useful Macros page, you will find a collection of useful macros for PvP for Frost Death Knights.
  • On the Frost Death Knight Arena Composition page, you will find the list of the most powerful Arena compositions featuring Frost Death Knights, in both 2v2 and 3v3 modes.
6.

Changelog

  • 21 Oct. 2024 (races): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (macros): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (comps): Updated for 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (gear): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 10 Oct. 2024 (gear): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 27 Aug. 2024 (blitz): Page added.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (races): Updated for War Within Launch.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (macros): Updated for War Within Launch.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for War Within Launch.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (comps): Updated for War Within Launch.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (gear): Updated for War Within Launch.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (talents): Updated for War Within Launch.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Updated for War Within Launch.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Updated for War Within Launch.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (races): Reviewed for War Within Prepatch.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for War Within Pre-Patch.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for War Within Prepatch.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for War Within Prepatch.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for War Within Prepatch.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for War Within Prepatch.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for War Within Prepatch.
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for War Within Prepatch.
  • 07 May 2024 (races): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (macros): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (comps): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (gear): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (talents): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (races): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
  • 01 Sep. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 01 Sep. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 01 Sep. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 01 Sep. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 01 Sep. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 01 Sep. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 01 Sep. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 01 Sep. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 05 May 2023 (races): Updated for Patch 10.1.
  • 05 May 2023 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.1.
  • 05 May 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.1.
  • 05 May 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.1.
  • 05 May 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.
  • 05 May 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1.
  • 05 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.
  • 05 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 31 Jul. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 Jul. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 Jul. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 Jul. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 Jul. 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 Jul. 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 Jul. 2022 (this page): Page reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 Jul. 2022 (this page): Page reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 May 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 03 Mar. 2022 (this page): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
  • 03 Mar. 2022 (this page): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.0.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.0.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (playstyle): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.0.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (gear): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
  • 02 Mar. 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.0.
  • 11 Dec. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2021 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2021 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2021 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (races): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (macros): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (comps): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 20 Mar. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 20 Mar. 2021 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 20 Mar. 2021 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 20 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 20 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 20 Feb. 2021 (macros): Added a new macro for burst situations.
  • 20 Feb. 2021 (comps): Additions of new comps and removal of an old one due to the new meta.
  • 20 Feb. 2021 (talents): Updates for the developing meta.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (races): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (this page): Guide ready for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (this page): Guide ready for Shadowlands Season 1.
  • 12 Nov. 2020 (macros): Updates made by new writer.
  • 12 Nov. 2020 (comps): Updates made by new writer.
  • 12 Nov. 2020 (gear): Updates made by new writer.
  • 12 Nov. 2020 (talents): Updates made by new writer.
  • 12 Nov. 2020 (this page): Updates made under new writer.
  • 12 Nov. 2020 (this page): Updates made under new writer.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (races): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
Show more
Show less